Wildcats win two at Arby’s

There has been no shortage of lessons learned the last two weeks for the Oak Ridge boys basketball team. From diplomacy to geography, Oak Ridge got a full course load at the Arby’s Classic and will play its final game today as they face Dobyns-Bennett for the second time in as many weeks in the fifth-place game at 2:30 p.m.

There has been no shortage of lessons learned the last two weeks for the Oak Ridge boys basketball team. From diplomacy to geography, Oak Ridge got a full course load at the Arby’s Classic and will play its final game today as they face Dobyns-Bennett for the second time in as many weeks in the fifth-place game at 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Oak Ridge 57, Va. Episcopal 54

Oak Ridge tied 32-32 at halftime with the 2012 runner-up in the Virginia Division II tournament went on a 15-6 run at halftime and held on late to get their first win of the tournament against the Fighting Bishops.

Virginia Episcopal had multiple chances to get a shot in late but could not connect.

Cory Fagan, who has had a good tournament so far, came out of his shooting slump hitting 4-of-6 from the three-point line and led the Wildcats with 15 points. Isaac Merian had 13.

Jaylin Henderson and Rian Hall had nine points each.

Anthony Swan, a transfer from Los Angeles, led VES with 15. Skye Johnson had 13 and Eastern Carolina commit Caleb White had 11.

Friday

Melrose 79, Oak Ridge 71

A second comeback fell just short for Oak Ridge as the Golden Wildcats of Memphis Melrose scored 27 points in the fourth quarter.

Oak Ridge led 53-52 at the start of the fourth but Melrose put on a full-court press that the Oak Ridge ’Cats couldn’t contend with. Melrose, a perennial state title contender, was led by Donte Fitzpatrick and Jamerrio Jones with 20 points each. Fitzpatrick also had 10 rebounds.

Marlon Hunter had 17 and Kenneth Goodwin had 16 for the Golden Wildcats as MHS had just one point from its bench.

Rian Hall led Oak Ridge with 20 and Rashad Gray had 18 in the seniors strongest performance since rejoining the team this season after sitting out the past two years. Cory Fagan had 13 and Jaylin Henderson had eight.

Saturday

Oak Ridge 71, Princeton Day Academy, Md. 54

The Wildcats weathered a literal blow to the face early against the Storm. Isaac Merian was hit with a jab to the face by 6-foot -7 forward Emmanuel Omogbo.

Omogbo — a Robert Morris commit — was ejected after scoring four points and gathering seven rebounds.

Cory Fagan had 21 to lead all scorers. Jaylin Henderson had 19.

Merian finished with 10 points and nine boards and went on to win the tournament Slam Dunk Contest by jumping over a Food Lion Mascot. Merian defeated Berkmar’s (Ga.) C.J. Foster in the finals.